For Awesome Banner, It's One Race at a Time

Jacks or Better Farm's homebred 3-year-old colt Awesome Banner is three-for-three, but trainer Stanley Gold indicated he's taking it one race at a time.

"I don't have 'Derby Fever' at all," Gold said Jan. 31, a day after the son of Awesome of Course won the seven-furlong Swale Stakes (gr. II) by five lengths at Gulfstream Park. "It'd be crazy to think about May in February."

LEWYN: Awesome Banner Dominates Swale

Awesome Banner has won his first three starts by a combined 19 1/2 lengths. He could make his first start around two turns in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream.

"I'm confident," Gold said. "The question is, when are we going to go two turns and where are we going to run next? Two turns won't be a problem, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're going to win. He'll run two turns, because he's not going to run off with crazy speed."

Favored Awesome Banner set a pressured pace in the Swale and covered six furlongs in 1:08.88 before drawing away to win in 1:21.81.

"That was impressive," Gold said of the quick six-furlong time. "He did just like he did last time. He did it just as impressively, only he went an eighth farther against tougher company. Plus, plus, plus. I'm happy with it."

Meanwhile, Cash Is King's 3-year-old Street Boss   filly Cathryn Sophia exited her victory in the Jan. 30 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream in "great" shape, trainer John Servis said, and she most likely will stretch out another furlong in the one-turn-mile Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 27.

NOVAK: Cathryn Sophia Proves Class in Forward Gal

The Forward Gal was at seven furlongs. Cathryn Sophia won her first two starts by a combined 29 lengths before her Forward Gal win.

"I got to watch the replay a couple times and I was very impressed," Servis said. "I thought the race (Saturday) was more impressive than the first two. That was only her third race, so you would sure think there is room for improvement."